Culture defines people's values, beliefs and personal interests. Culture is important because it allows people to maintain a unique society identity. Many cultures have common interests, while others may have very different customs from another. Technology has had a huge impact on current cultures. Many cultures have been changed, including my own, and some have been created through the rise of technology. Cultures differ so much that a person belonging to one culture may not agree with the values ​​of another, which then leads to social and ethical problems. My culture shares many similarities with other cultures around the world; many of which have connected more people than ever before in recent years. Cultural gaps and lack of understanding of people's values ​​and beliefs are important reasons why cultures fail to understand each other. For example, I'm African American, but I don't like to identify as African American. I wasn't born in Africa, so I don't consider myself African American. I say this because it creates cultural confusion. A man born and raised in Africa would not present himself in the same light as a black man born in America. Africans have their own identity, and most prefer to keep it that way. Tracie Reddick, a former Yale professor and expert on African culture, says that “Africans and Black Americans often fail to build relationships in classrooms and the workplace. They blame nationality, ethnicity, culture, economics and education” (Reddick). There are many cultural differences within the breed itself, and this is why personal culture is so unique and important. I have the same skin color as an African, but that's about it. What might be important to someone from Nigeria might mean...... middle of paper...... I really am. Like I said, I'm black and American, but not African American, I try to understand people outside of my racial group by listening to different types of music, and I'm tolerant of people's views on religion and beliefs. Connie. “No joke: while the majority of young people denounce racist and sexist insults online, many persist in their insults: American survey.” National Post. Postmedia Network, November 20, 2013. Web. May 4, 2014. Reddick, Tracie. “African versus African American, shared skin tone does not guarantee racial solidarity.” African versus African American. Tribune Co., 1997. The web. May 2, 2014.Swan, Christopher. “Connecting the world through social media.” IABC: CW Swan Bulletin. International Association for Business Communications, nd Web. May 2, 2014. “Yo-Yo Ma Quotes.” Thinkexist.com. Thinkexist, and Web. April 15. 2014.